A/N: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. People seem to like Sarah being strong with Beckman.
As usual, thanks go to MarkeyDeSad for the beta.
Here, Sarah is going on a mission with Chuck and Zondra. A mission to find and detain her dad. What could possibly go wrong?
The Novelist
Chapter 11: Parents
Sarah was a swirl of emotions as she boarded the plane.
She was going on a mission with Chuck and Zondra, which itself had competing emotions. Excitement of doing it for real, rather than just writing about it, but also worry that she might mess up somehow.
Being with these two was great, though. A woman who she really liked, even if she was a bit scary, and who she at least thought liked her, and her wonderful boyfriend. She looked at Chuck just in front of her with a fondness she never knew she had in her.
"I'm the protector on this trip," Zondra said, drily, behind her.
"Protecting who from whom?" Sarah asked with a smile.
Zondra laughed. "Well, seeing how you both keep looking at each other, it ain't either of you from the other… I still get the aisle seat."
Sarah ushered Chuck in first. She would then be able to talk to Zondra as well as Chuck.
They settled into their seats for their ninety-minute flight.
"We'll have a car waiting for us when we get there and are booked into the Grand Hyatt in Union Square for four nights. Hopefully that will be long enough."
"Is it near to the sea lions?" Chuck asked eagerly.
"We aren't going to sightsee, Chuck," Zondra stated, flatly.
"I've stayed there before," Sarah said. Both looked at her, so she shrugged. "Book tour." She turned to Chuck. "It's about a half-hour stroll to Pier 39. They are worth seeing, if you haven't before."
"Maybe on the last day, before we fly back," Zondra commented.
The in-flight checks started then and soon they were off.
"How is the new book going?" Zondra asked, trying not to sound too eager.
Sarah smiled, now that she knew how much Zondra liked her novels. "Going well. It builds on the character development from the last one, but new characters are appearing. She smiled and looked over her shoulder at Chuck who was looking out the window at ground disappearing. "Ellie has persuaded me to add a love interest for Rebecca. I'm thinking of calling him Charles."
Zondra grinned. "Based on anyone?"
Sarah chuckled. "Most of my characters are based on people I know or some amalgamation of them."
The view was less interesting now, so Chuck started listening to their conversation, having laced the fingers of his nearest hand into Sarah's.
"Was Bruce someone you knew?" Zondra asked.
Sarah felt Chuck's fingers tense. She wasn't going to hide this from him. "Yeah, a boyfriend from three years ago. Not as exciting as Bruce, though, or as evil; at least, not that I know."
Zondra teased, "Name similar to Bruce?"
"Yeah, Bryce. Not a spy, though." Sarah chuckled, then noticed Zondra's eyes shoot over to Chuck. She looked at him. He looked uncomfortable. That seemed a bit odd. "Know any Bryce's, Chuck?" she asked.
"Only one. Part of things going wrong for me at Stanford."
Her heart sinking, almost knowing the answer, she asked, "What was his last name?"
Chuck looked at his girlfriend, wanting to see if it was the same one. "…Larkin."
She twisted and reached out her other hand to grab his furthest one. "Dark-haired pretty boy?" Somehow any liking she had ever had for her ex-boyfriend was gone completely, hence her tone and choice of words.
He nodded. "The reason my girlfriend refused my proposal."
She tightened her grip on his hands. "Stupid girl. This one knows you are so much better than him." He saw the look in her eyes and that she believed that. She leaned closer. "In every way, Chuck." There was no mistaking her meaning.
He grinned at her. "Thanks."
"Welcome," she replied. Still holding one of his hands, she turned back to her friend. "The OTT male bonding and drinking was certainly him to a tee."
Zondra's eyes really sparkled as she asked, "So, will Charles be OTT nerdy?"
Sarah laughed. "Well, he's not written into the story yet. I haven't even thought what his job is or anything. Not even where they'll meet."
A voice from behind her said, "Lotharios lurk."
That caused Sarah to laugh and have to explain to Zondra about their first meeting. By the end, Zondra was leaning forward and pointing at Chuck. "Should I tell Casey?"
"Don't you dare!" he cried, but both women saw his smile.
Chuck decided to let the two women chat. He knew Sarah got very little female bonding time and Zondra was such a fangirl, it would be good for her too. He settled back into his seat and closed his eyes. He was with the woman he loved and was very happy.
After a while, he started to think about this mission. The mission where Sarah was a key player. He started thinking how wonderful it was that she could join them, be part of his other life. It would give her a better insight into that life, which might help with her books.
Gradually, however, he started to think of the downsides of her being with them. As he thought more, he became keyed up and nervous. His knee started bouncing as his mind started spiraling. He never normally did this, but this was the first time Sarah had been involved. His mind focusing on her safety and her emotional wellbeing should anything go wrong when they met with this man that might be her father.
Sarah noticed Chuck's knee starting to bounce out of the corner of her eye.
She had been happily talking with Zondra about her fictional spy character and how she'd based Rebecca on herself. Zondra seemed to soak in every detail like a sponge, always asking for more and more detail. Sarah was getting ready to start her own inquisition of Zondra for details about being an actual female spy in what appeared to be a male dominated profession. Her natural fascination only being curbed when she'd caught onto Chuck's nervousness.
Sarah captured Chuck's gaze and put her hand softly on his bouncing thigh, which caused its motion to stop. She gave him a small reassuring smile, leaned in, kissed his cheek gently and said, "A penny for your thoughts?" Her touch, smile, and kiss calming her boyfriend instantly. She could see the deep concern for her in his eyes and read it on his face as if it were printed on his forehead. It made her feel warmed to her core that he was so worried about her. 'He really is too good to be true.' she wistfully thought to herself.
She held his face in her hands and tried to reassure him. "I'll be OK, Chuck. If it's not Dad, I'll apologize and walk away. If it is, he won't hurt me and I can persuade him to help you."
"But what if he catches sight of us and reacts badly? Or what if he is being followed by Fulcrum agents? Or-"
She placed a finger to his lips to quiet him. "Well, you two need to keep out of sight until I signal you. and as for all other threats, that's what Zondra is here for." She looked at the woman beside her. "Right? Survey the area, spot any threats. Stop me even going near him if there are any. Right?"
Zondra grinned. "Yes, leader. Will do."
"Zondra don't take this so lightly," Chuck admonished.
Sarah was surprised as she watched Zondra's eyes somehow turn to steel, Impressive for someone with dark brown eyes. "You know I take this very seriously, Chuck. Never imply that I don't. Besides, this is not an appropriate place to discuss these things."
He looked embarrassed.
Zondra continued, "I will indeed make sure there are no threats to Sarah's safety."
Sarah had moved her finger away, so Chuck started again, just looking at Sarah, "But what about the emotional aspect of meeting this man after twenty years, Sarah?"
Sarah's own eyes hardened. "That's for me to deal with, Chuck. Don't try to interfere with that aspect. I will deal with him how I see fit, as long as he helps, that is." Chuck started to speak, but the finger appeared on his lips. "No, Chuck. I will be fine. Please stop, or you'll make me nervous."
Chuck hadn't thought about that. His spiraling dragging her down. He nodded and pretended to zip his lips.
Sarah took her finger away and kissed his lips, then whispered to him. "I love that you care so much, but I don't want to doubt myself. I love you, Chuck."
"Love you too, Sarah," he replied kissing her again.
"Please sit back and relax, Sweetie."
He nodded and settled back to listen to them.
As Sarah turned back to Zondra, she remembered the agent's words to Chuck about where they were. She realized she couldn't just ask Zondra questions about the spy life with other people sitting around them. That would have to wait. In the meantime, she'd continue to chat to the NSA agent and might pick things up along the way. "What else do you want to know about Rebecca?"
The view from their room was fascinating, spanning downtown San Francisco. They were only on the seventh floor, so not the best view, but it was still good.
Chuck was loving being with Sarah. If this was a true vacation, he'd love it even more. He was trying his hardest not to be pessimistic. His natural state was of optimism and hope, but his time with the NSA had sapped that somewhat. He knew it was his sense of protectiveness exacerbating this here.
Sarah came out of the bathroom looking as stunning as ever as she sidled up to him. She wrapped her arm around his waist as he lifted his right to cover her shoulders. They fit together perfectly, as always. She sighed, leaning into him.
Just this little moment of quiet intimacy was wonderful. Chuck had not expected anything so wonderful to happen to him, after Stanford; after Jill. However, Sarah being part of his life now was everything he could have ever wanted. He needed to stop even thinking back to his time with Jill. Sarah was his life now, and Jill couldn't even hold a candle to her.
Then, those concerns about this mission started to creep back in. How can I keep her safe?
Sarah had felt him relax in her arms. Knowing he felt as she did, was pleasing in itself. Unfortunately, being close like this, she also felt him tense. How can I reassure him, so he doesn't worry about me and Dad?
The two of them stood contemplating their dilemmas for a while. Sarah separated from him first. She took hold of his hand and led him to the foot of the bed. Sitting down, she tugged slightly and he joined her.
She looked into those wonderful hazel eyes of his, noting the flecks of chocolate brown and gold in them. She loved his eyes, but then, she loved all of this man. "Chuck, you worrying about me does make me feel special. Wanted. That part makes me feel warm all over. However, I need to focus on how to deal with Dad, how to make him know who I am, and then to persuade him to help. You being like this is not helping me, it's distracting me. Zondra, and you, will be looking out for me, but I need to do this. Not just for this mission of yours, but for me, and possibly for Mom. I need to talk to Dad." She sighed. "I need to know what he has been doing with his life. Can't you understand that?".
Chuck looked into her endless ocean-blue eyes. Eyes that were now imploring him to believe in her, believe she will be safe and to support her. How could he do otherwise? His worries wouldn't go away until all this was over, but he would hide them away from her, keep them under control.
What Sarah had just asked, made him think about his dad. "I do understand, Sarah, more than you can possibly imagine. I wish I could do the same with my dad." Maybe now was the time to open up about his parents.
Sarah took this as him allowing her in a bit further into his past. He'd been reluctant to talk about his mom and dad before, but this felt like an invitation. "Tell me about your parents, Chuck, then I really need to prep myself."
"Briefly," he replied, and they both smiled at that word, "Their story and this world of espionage are linked. Mom was a spy, in the CIA and Dad was a scientist, whom she met on one of her missions. He wasn't the focus of her mission, not her mark, but one of his associates, Ted Roark, was. The two men had been friends, so Mom investigated Dad, but found that Roark had stolen ideas from him and they'd fallen out over it. Suffice it to say, Roark was suspected of selling IT secrets to North Korea, some of which were based on Dad's ideas. Her investigation confirmed that was happening and Roark Industries was taken out of action. Mom and Dad fell for each other and stayed together after it all finished. Her boss never liked her being with a civilian and tried to send her on long-term assignments, away from Dad, but she refused and threatened to leave the agency. "
He'd not thought about all this for some time and was surprised at how it all still hurt.
"This is all classified, Sarah, so I shouldn't really be telling you." She started to interrupt, but he held up a hand and continued, "Mom worked with the NSA on a couple of assignments where the needs of the two agencies aligned. Mom focused on the offshore side and Major Beckman, as she was then, worked on the US side. They were, in effect partners and grew to be friends.
"Dad got pulled in too and worked for the CIA in their labs in DC. Ellie's arrival changed Mom and Dad's priorities. Dad managed to persuade his boss to let him open a site on the West Coast, in Burbank. I have no idea why there, but they moved over to live there. Mom used the study as her base, and LAX as the airport from which to head out offshore. She still went on missions, but mostly short -term ones.
"I came along, and Mom took what they called a sabbatical. I never asked what she did with Ellie as a baby. Dad continued his work. Mom went back to work when I started preschool and Dad's parents, who had moved over too, helped him look after us when she was away. Maybe that's what happened when Ellie was little, too. According to Beckman, they collaborated more."
He needed to wrap this up. "Everything continued like this until I was twelve. A happy family torn apart by a hit and run driver. Mom and Dad were killed instantly, apparently."
Sarah had been listening to his quiet tale, engrossed in it, in fact. This ending took her by surprise. She knew they died when Ellie was sixteen and Chuck twelve, because her editor had told her that, but how they died was still a shock. She gasped out, her hands rushing to cover her mouth. "Oh my God, Chuck. That's awful."
He smiled at her. "It was a long time ago. Ellie and I lived with our grandparents after that." After a pause, he continued, "Coming back to you and your dad, I wish I could talk to mine. Not to find out what he'd been doing since I last saw him, obviously, but to know more about him and what he did back then. He had been opening up to me for a couple of years, but he could tell me so much more, if we had time together now."
Sarah thought about that for a moment. "I don't think I'd learn anything useful from Dad, but knowledge of his life over the last twenty years is still appealing."
Chuck opened his arms and she slid into them. They hugged each other for quite some time, their embrace offering each the comfort from their thoughts.
Chuck had activated his search app and hooked to up to local surveillance shortly after they had arrived. They'd decided Sarah should approach the man in daylight, but wanted to see who he met, if anybody, and where, so didn't plan anything for that day.
The app detected him mid-afternoon entering a coffee shop on his own. Chuck ran through recordings from that camera over the previous week. When Sarah asked why, he replied, "In case he's a regular there. If not, I'll run a wider search of the city center for that period." He flushed. "I should have done this before we came, but hadn't thought about it."
"Smart," she replied.
"I guess," Zondra commented, "But this is the sort of thing he's paid to do for us."
Sarah grinned at her boyfriend, feeling proud of him.
"Are there any cameras in that shop?" Zondra asked.
"'Fraid not," Chuck replied. "I checked."
Sarah had noted the time the individual entered the shop and, when he left, checked her watch. About long enough to order a coffee and drink it slowly. "He's still alone."
"He might have met someone and left them in there," Zondra replied. "Can you zoom in on him?"
Chuck did so, just as he went out of shot. "Hold on, I'll wind back." He did so and adjusted the picture.
Sarah gasped. She was sure this was her dad. It did look like him, but the twenty years had aged him more than that. His wrinkles made him look about ten years older than he would now be. His hair was still thick, but graying. He walked with a limp, but needed, or used, no aids. "That's him. I'm sure of it."
"Can you track him? See where he goes next?" Zondra asked Chuck.
"Trying, but it's as if he knows he's on camera and is avoiding them. I only catch him when crossing one of the roads."
"You probably only caught him earlier because that's his favorite coffee house or something," Sarah responded.
Soon, Chuck realized her dad had disappeared from sight altogether. "He's gone."
"What do you mean, gone?" Sarah asked.
Zondra replied, "Off grid. Out of sight. Poof."
"Either gone into one of the buildings or is more effective at hiding than I thought," Chuck explained.
"He could be. Instincts developed over the years to avoid being caught," Sarah mused.
"Any hotels or apartments in the area, Chuck?" Zondra wasn't going to give up that easily.
"Not in that area," Chuck had already checked, so there would be no internal surveillance to help.
After a further half hour, the scan of old records beeped. Chuck checked it. After a while he looked up. "Seems he's a creature of habit. He goes into that coffee shop daily and at about the same time."
"Poor evasive behavior," Zondra muttered.
"Maybe he's not hiding specifically, just using his usual route," Sarah said, smiling. "So, tomorrow, same time, same place?"
"Probably," Zondra mumbled. Seeing the looks she was getting; she raised her tone slightly. "He may change his pattern tomorrow. Don't assume anything."
They got room service for dinner and sat together discussing what should happen the next day. By the end of all of Zondra's comments about what to look out for, Sarah's head was spinning. "Is this normal?"
"If meeting in such a public place, yes. The fact that it's in broad daylight is both good and bad. Good because it's obviously easier to see the surrounding area. Bad because you'll be visible too." Zondra looked at them both. "Snipers would still be hard to spot, either way."
Sarah questioned this, "Why would snipers be aiming for me, or him for that matter."
"Dunno. Have to consider everything," the grim NSA agent replied.
"Is this what your life is like, Zondra? Always looking over your shoulder?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, but for me, it's second nature. For others I'm protecting or observing, it takes a bit more time and effort."
Sarah turned to Chuck. "Do you have to do this?"
"I'm rarely in the field during missions," he replied.
"You can do it, Chuck," Zondra commented. He looked at her, as did Sarah. Zondra looked at Sarah as she observed, "With the right incentive he's good at it. Saved Casey and I in Japan." She held her hand up as Sarah was about to speak. "It's all classified, but he did."
Sarah didn't like this blanket of security over what they did, but guessed that was how they survived. 'Tell no one.'
Zondra smiled for the first time since they started the discussion. "He has the right incentive here. Probably the best." Sarah knew what she was going to say, so it was unnecessary. She, herself, was the incentive, or rather keeping her safe was.
Sarah changed topic from the mission and spent the next two and a half hours or so quizzing the female agent on her role. No specific missions, but generalities. A lot of it was about being a woman in a male dominated profession. "Yeah. They can be pigs," Zondra commented. "Much more so in the CIA, though. In the NSA they act like they are superior, but that's all. In the CIA, they act that way, but also that you're there as a plaything for them."
There were a few topics that Zondra wouldn't talk about, though. "Seduction missions were a thing within the CIA. I hated them and was glad to see that the NSA didn't resort to those tactics."
"You don't have to do them in the NSA?" Sarah asked.
Zondra stared at her for a while, then just said, "Not if we don't want to. It can come up, but you are never expected to go through with it."
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.
"As I say, that's a CIA thing. I don't want to talk about that."
By the end of the session, Sarah had gleaned a lot from her friend, in addition to the misogynistic male attitudes.
The basic view she came away with was that the NSA 'played by the book' more. Followed rules. Whereas the CIA was much looser with rules and as long as the goal was achieved, how they did it was up to them. If, however, there was a direct order from the leadership in the CIA, those had to be followed. Such things as assassinations or those seductions. NSA carried out assassinations, just as much as the CIA. Zondra had done them in both organizations. Casey far more, but only in the NSA. His scorn for the CIA was almost as strong as Beckman's, apparently..
She went to bed taking notes from the conversation. All of this would be useful in her novels.
She was so fired up about this all, that she'd just about forgotten what was to happen the next day.
As Chuck climbed into bed beside her, she hardly noticed him. He was tense about tomorrow, so didn't feel like sex and she obviously wasn't considering it. Her pajamas said, 'no thanks' as she walked to the bed, so his t-shirt and shorts he put on said, 'ok, but if you change your mind."
He lay down facing her, but giving her plenty of space and he soon went to sleep.
When Sarah realized the time, she turned over to face Chuck and saw he was fast asleep. She wished then that she'd thought about what she'd put on to come to bed. Her skimpy nighty might have drawn him to her in this luxury hotel bed. However, he was part of her protection team, so she guessed he needed his sleep to be able to concentrate.
She just lay down, looking at him until she drifted off too.
Morning sex was the best, she decided as she lay there panting after he rolled off her. Maybe it was better because it had been so long since last time. Or maybe it was because Chuck Bartowski was the best lover in the world. Whatever it was, she felt so good right now.
She leaned over, grabbed the curls at the back of his head and pulled his lips to hers. They had time for another round.
They eventually rose and headed to the bathroom, together, with every intention of getting clean after trying it in the shower.
They just about managed to catch the end of breakfast, but neither were complaining.
They were just finishing their coffees when Zondra joined them and sat down. "Been checking the area by the coffee shop," she told them.
Sarah felt embarrassed. While Zondra had been working she and her boyfriend had been screwing, with no thought for the mission. She looked at Chuck and he was concentrating on his coffee. She turned to Zondra. "And?"
Zondra smirked. "God, you sound like Beckman." Chuck snorted, obviously agreeing. "It's an open area, but tall buildings all around. Plenty of places a sniper could be." She sighed. "Lets hope there are none."
"Is that normal?" Sarah asked.
Zondra shook her head. "No, but this mission is not normal. Unless we just happen to approach him when a hit team was about to take him out, I think we're good."
Sarah nodded. "So, I just walk in and go and sit with him. Do my thing."
Zondra grinned, as did Chuck. "Do your thing," they said in unison.
Sarah wasn't used to wearing a mike under her top, nor was she used to wearing an ear piece. Thankfully, both were so small that they were unlikely to be seen.
Zondra tested them with her earlier and then Chuck repeated it. "Can't be too careful," he informed both women. Zondra just smirked and walked away.
Her dad, and she was sure it was her dad now, had just entered to coffee shop. It was one with table service, so Sarah had seen him walk to a table near the back. On his own.
Zondra wandered in ahead of her, seemingly scanning for a friend, but seeing no one and wandered back out. She'd previously told Sarah she was more worried about people approaching, so would take a table with Chuck outside.
The shop had a cake display, so Sarah stayed there, supposedly choosing one, until one of the staff took a coffee to him. He hadn't ordered, so was obviously a regular with a regular order.
Sarah steeled herself and walked to his table. He sat stirring his drink, ignoring her.
"Dad?" she asked, tentatively.
He looked up and looked at her for the first time. She looked at him too. Close up, the lines on his face looked deeper. This life he had been leading was not good for him. However, she recognized him and there was a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. She knew she looked similar to her mom had before Sarah had arrived; taller and slightly slimmer, but similar.
He looked back down at his coffee. "Don't know you. On yer bike." The voice was a bit more gravelly than it used to be, but was definitely his. He obviously hadn't completely lost his Cockney accent either. The slang phrase to tell her to go away actually made her smile.
Chuck hadn't expected to hear this weird mixture of American and British accents or Jack's phrases. He realized he would have to concentrate to understand what the man said.
She sat down. "Thanks for confirming who you are, Dad." He glared at her. And said nothing. She started talking, "Haven't seen you for nearly twenty."
He narrowed his eyes. He was clearly sizing her up. Maybe seeing traces of her mom in her. "Where'd you see me last?"
That was easy. "At our house. The police were taking you away."
"Anyone could read that." He spat to his side.
Things were looking up. He didn't spit on her. "I hated it when you shouted at Mom, but even more when you spat on her."
He looked sharply at her. "What's your name?"
She almost told him her current name, but stopped herself in time. "Jenny Burton when you were taken away and you were Jack Burton. Those names were given to us by the men that brought us from Manchester. I have no idea what your name is now."
"Easy to find out," he muttered. She wasn't sure whether he meant what she had just mention or his name now. She acted as if it was the former.
"When we left London, my name was Penny Jones. Mom was Elsie Jones and you were Steve Jones. Not very original, Dad. Mom said they were names you chose, not the police." She shook her head thinking about that time. "Why did you give evidence and make us move from London, Dad?"
He snapped his head up and glared at her. "If I hadn't they were gonna lock me up. I'd not see my daughter."
"Your daughter was then given the name Mary, Dad. Don't you remember Mary James?" He put his head in his hands on hearing that name. "None of it worked out though, did it? Moving us around, name changes. In the end, we came over here and you got in trouble again." She looked at him intensely. "And ended up in prison anyway."
He grumbled, but said nothing. His eyes became vacant. He was probably thinking about their time together. Somewhere. Or maybe his time in prison.
"Mom and I were taken away to keep us safe from you, your shouting and treatment of Mom." Her voice started to rise. "She had a breakdown because of you. DAD!" She shouted the last word as she stood, leaning across the table. Sarah noticed the server call to someone in the back. A man came out and he and the woman started toward Sarah and her dad.
Zondra growled something at her, but she heard nothing, so intent on her words. Sarah looked at the man sitting in front of her and hissed, "Remember yet?"
Jack rubbed his face and looked at her. He was about to speak when he was asked, "Is this woman troubling you, Mr. Francis?"
Her dad looked at the man and woman who had walked over. He chuckled. "Yes, but not 'ow you think." He waved them away.
Sarah let him collect his thoughts for a moment, then asked, "Mr. Francis?"
He nodded. "Jake Francis." He looked her in the eyes. "And you are… now?"
She settled into her chair. She'd gotten riled up thinking about how it had been at the end, in Boston. She forced her calm to return. This whole thing would be a disaster if she carried on like that. She had wondered about the name to give him, but decided to just be honest. "Sarah Walker," she replied.
He grunted, then looked at her more closely. "You're beautiful, Sarah, just like yer mom was back then."
"Why did you go back to crime, Dad? When we got to Boston." This had played on her mind as soon as she knew he was about to come back into her life.
He huffed. "Why does anyone? To make money so that I could look after you. And yer mom."
"If you loved Mom, why did you treat her like you did? You even hit her once." She just couldn't understand that.
He buried his head in his hands, but kept talking. "The booze. Never wanted to hurt 'er. Loved 'er, but everythin' was goin' to shit and she found out and started yellin' at me. I yelled back, but that one time, and it was only once, I'd drunk so much that I did hit her, I think; least that's what she told me."
He uncovered his face, but looked into the distance, recalling. "Got a break and things were about to look up for me… us. I was goin' to make a stash and then get the three of us away, but Feds moved in and that was it." He looked at her again. "I never stopped lovin' you both, but never thought I'd see you ag'in." He started to reach for her hand, then thought better of it.
As Sarah looked into his eyes, she could see tears forming. She had to plough on, though, to compete this damn mission. She asked in a much softer tone, "When did you get out and what have you been doing, Dad?"
"Out after eight. Odd jobs for another seven or eight, probably, don't know for sure. Got into the con circuit during that time. Got good at it, too. Also started moving things around. Things no one wanted to know about. Couple a years ago, hit jackpot. British firm with ties over 'ere hired me for my skills, in logistics (that sounds good don't it?) and in 'acquiring things' they called it. Made some money doing that, then they suddenly dropped me. Just after I drove this truck they provided over 'ere. So, 'ere I am trying to decide what to do next." He looked her way. "Maybe I should visit the missus."
"NO!" Sarah looked around, then lowered her voice. "You can't see Mom. She'll have another breakdown."
He just stared for a moment, then looked away.
She had to move on from this. "Dad, I need your help. I will be in a real shitty mess if you don't and so will you."
His eyes narrowed and he looked back at her. "Is this why you found me? Not just by chance?"
"No, dad. You're being tracked," she admitted.
"By who?" he started looking around the room.
"By the NSA. They'll lock us both up and throw away the keys if we don't help them." When she was little she could tell him lies and he would never know. She was the only one who could, so she was fairly confident here. Besides it was true for him, so she was only stretching it a bit.
"We can run," he immediately replied calmly. "I'm not worried 'bout 'em."
"You can't hide from every camera, Dad. You might have been able to do that in the past, but not now. How do you think you were tracked here?"
He scowled. "F'in' technology."
She nodded. "Yeah. Cameras, whether within buildings or outside, even card readers, you leave a trail."
He was silent for a minute. Then, he asked, "What do they want?"
She just had to reel him in now. "They need information on what you were carrying for Fulcrum, and where you dropped it, along with contact details."
His response surprised her. "Who the 'ell is Fulcrum?"
Zondra's voice appeared in her ear. "He was probably not told that name."
Sarah took this in her stride. "That's who you've been working for."
He shook his head. "Told you, I was working for a British firm. Called Arkwright & Sons."
"One of their cover companies," Zondra told her.
"That's part of Fulcrum, Dad."
"Well, they ditched me 'ere," he grumbled. "Obviously don't need me anymore."
"So, he's expendable," Zondra warned. Her tone made Sarah shiver.
"That means you're expendable, Dad," Sarah shared.
He scoffed. "You sayin' they'll kill me? They wouldna do that. 'sides, been here for a while now."
"They might be making sure he'd delivered what they need before…" Zondra started, then more urgently, "Get out of there, Sarah."
Sarah was frightened by Zondra's tone. "We should get out of here, Dad."
He shook his head, not interested in moving.
"Why the worry, Z?" Sarah asked, frightened that the woman had seen someone.
"They may react to you being with him and for so long, and I can't see all the possible places to shoot from," Zondra replied, sounding nervous.
"Who's Z and where is 'e?" her dad said looking around again.
"My contact. We have to go, dad. Now!" Sarah replied, standing. She reached for his hand.
"Not goin' nowhere." He whipped his hand away, stubbornly.
Sarah heard Chuck mutter. "She should have worn a bullet proof vest. I'm going in."
"No, Chuck," Zondra replied.
Sarah heard a scuffle. She reached and grabbed her dad's hand this time and moved sideways to be able to yank him out of his seat. She then felt something rush past her head and saw the vase of flowers behind her dad shatter.
Her dad heard it and felt the glass and water spray his back. He reacted instantly and took her hand pulling her down beneath the table on his side.
Fortunately, everyone in the coffee shop heard it and some saw their reaction. People sprung out of their seats, providing an excellent cover for them. Unfortunately, Sarah could see that the rush of people trying to get out of the café would also stop Zondra and Chuck getting in. She was thankful for the latter, glad he would not get hurt, but she could have done with Zondra with her.
Jake pulled her along to the left. "Keep down, Kid."
Sarah did as he said. He got to a door and pushed it open. "In a door to the left," she muttered.
"Your damn NSA may be the ones shootin'" Jake snapped.
"They were the ones warning us, Dad," she pointed out.
He grunted, pulling her through the room to a door at the back. This led to a hallway, which had several doors.
"Where are we going, Dad?"
"Safety," he muttered.
She stopped walking and held her ground. "Where, Dad? Where out of this building, and where then?"
"God! You are yer Mum's daughter! Stubborn as 'ell." He tried pulling again, but she held firm. He sighed. "Out back o' buildin'. Then to my place."
Sarah could hear Zondra and Chuck running. Zondra said, "That won't be safe. They'll have it covered. We're coming round the building now. Stop at the backdoor."
Sarah stated, "We go to the exit and stop there, waiting for my team. Your place won't be safe."
"Yer team?"
"The NSA team," she replied. "Let's keep moving."
He obeyed and led her to the furthest door and out onto some steps leading to the back alleyway.
They heard a door burst open behind them as they shut this one.
Sarah advised Zondra and Chuck as she and her dad walked down the steps, "I think we're being followed." Then she saw them run round the corner of the building. She had never been so glad to see people.
"Get down beyond those dumpsters," Zondra told them as she arrived, pointing the way. Her tone was controlled, quiet, but commanding.
Sarah led her dad there and Chuck joined them, gun in hand.
Zondra hid further away from them but with clear sight of the door they'd come through. That door burst open. One man, wielding a gun ran out. Sarah wondered why Zondra didn't react instantly, but the reason became apparent when another armed man followed. Both were dressed in casual clothes, neither looking threatening, apart from the guns in their hands, of course.
The men slowly walked down the steps. No one seemed to be following. "Drop the guns," Zondra shouted.
Both men turned, firing as they moved. Zondra hit one in the forehead and the other in his right hand, forcing him to drop the gun. As she walked toward him, she shot him in the knee and left shoulder incapacitating him.
Chuck was covering the door, but no one else had emerged.
Zondra was calling in about this as Chuck helped the two of them up. Both were in shock at what they'd seen.
"Mr. Francis, Miss Walker, you'd better come with us. Not just to help us, but for the two of you to be safe." Chuck's voice brought Sarah out of her shock. She realized he was behaving and talking differently in his 'NSA guise' for her dad's sake. She nodded to him and turned to her dad who was just starting to nod.
Sarah was surprised at how everything had turned out. She was sure that Zondra, at least, would be in trouble for not spotting the two men in the coffee shop. Well, at least we got dad away safely.
Chuck looked to Zondra, who'd finished her calls. She looked at the three of them. "Clean up crew will be here in five, but we have to get out of here. Follow me." She walked past them. Chuck knew the way to her car was that way. He ushered the other two to follow.
Chuck couldn't help wondering if her dad would've been left alone if she hadn't approached him. And what the hell had he been carrying for Fulcrum?
A/N: Mission went sideways, but they recovered. Now, as Chuck says, they need to find out what Jack, or Jake as he now calls himself, was carrying for Fulcrum. Something for next chapter…
Please let me know what you think of this chapter in a review.
